07/02/2008: "One phone calls and cars"

So, I bought a cell phone last Friday.. finally signing contracts and stuff here in Japan. Kinda strange to do that, and to negotiate these things (something I didn't really do much of stateside). For anyone who's curious, there's a video of my phone here. It's been really convenient so far, especially for the e-mail access on my phone, and the camera's decent (it's easier to make myself take my phone out to take a picture of the scenery and places I work than to take out a camera , turn it on, etc). So, I should have more pictures to upload soon.

Only about 5 people in the country know my number, and I've thus only received one call (from the car mechanic... long story). That is, until an hour ago.

At about 1am, 1:30ish, my phone suddenly rings. I figure it's a coworker or my friend (in another city), but it says "unknown". I answer it anyway (in Japanese), but I can't understand what they're saying. I ask what they said, but they still mumble it and I can't understand. I say (in Japanese) that this is Jason, and I asked who the caller is. The caller on the other end (a woman, Japanese judging by the pronunciation) says "I'm angry." in English. I ask why, and she says it again then hangs up.

Now remember that not only is my number unlisted and that no one knows it, but that I'm in a country where the majority of people do NOT speak English. I never spoke English until after I heard what they said. I tried to call back, but it was a blocked number (unknown and blocked) so I couldn't, I can't even find the number. So.. that makes it much less likely that it was just a misdialed number (especially considering they spoke the phrase in English on the phone).

If I was a superstitious sort, I'd be alarmed. I'm still... perturbed by the call, but not enough to really bother me.

Fun!

I need to get to bed, but for a quick update:

I got internet installed in my house (good!).
My umbrella got stolen when I went into a store at midnight 2 miles from my house in the pouring rain (bad)
I put 4 gallons of kerosene into the gas tank of my car (VERY bad).. hence the mechanic last weekend.

Let me just tell you.. READ THE SIGN. I can read the kanji, I know the difference. I just didn't check.. I assumed, and this led to me putting 4 gallons of kerosene into the car tank. Not exactly cheap to fix.. though the mechanic was a really nice guy and had never met a Japanese speaking American before, so he invited me into his house and we talked for awhile.

I need to go to bed.. demon calls aside.

I'll try to update soon (ideally this weekend) and upload some pictures. See you later!!


Jason